Putin does not believe current economic situation is cost for Crimea

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he does not believe the current economic situation is the cost to be paid for Crimea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he does not believe the current economic situation is the cost to be paid for Crimea.

“This is not the payment for Crimea, this is the payment for our natural desire to preserve ourselves as a nation, civilization and state,” the Russian leader said.

“After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union we were absolutely open before our partners,” Putin said. “And what have we seen? The full support for (gunmen) in the North Caucasus. Partners do not act like this. This is the fact. Everyone knows this. On any issue we always had problems, opponents and fight against us,” he said.

Putin said that Russia’s tough stance on crisis situations should let the foreign partners realize the need of building a common security space.

“Our tough stance on the crisis situations, on Ukraine, should let the partners know that the best way is to stop building the walls and build a common security space instead,” Putin told his annual news conference on Thursday.

Sanctions account for 25-30% of problems in the Russian economy, the Russian president said.